I don’t know when I fell in love with Ash Wednesday, but it is by far my favorite day in the church calendar. I could listen to the liturgy and readings over and over–and sometimes do throughout the rest of Lent.
Many people think only Catholics observe Lent, but Episcopalians and other Protestant denominations also observe Ash Wednesday, Lent, and the holy days in the week leading up to Easter.
This video is a great “highlights reel” that explains Lent in about 2 minutes:
Observing Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is a solemn holy day in the church calendar, and the readings remind us of our sinful nature and call us to repentance. But the readings also include promises of God’s love and grace. Maybe that’s why I love it so much–it confirms that God loves us as we are; God loves our perfeclty imperfect selves.
The opening prayer from the Ash Wednesday service in the Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer puts it this way:
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have created and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
Being reminded of God’s forgiveness before we confess our sins reinforces God’s unconditional love for us.
The readings also include Psalm 103, which has these comforting verses:
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,
slow to anger and full of great kindness.He will not always accuse us,
nor will he keep his anger forever.He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our sins from us.
Even as we are called to confess our sins, this Psalm reminds us that God loves our whole selves.
I was supposed to be on a business trip today, and was having a hard time finding a church near my hotel. I’m glad my trip was postponed for a number of reasons, but really relieved I won’t have to miss the Ash Wednesday service.
As for observing Lent, the Book of Common Prayer provides these guidelines:
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and
meditating on God’s holy Word.
I plan to follow a vegetarian diet, but that’s not as much “self-denial” as it used to be. I have been eating less and less meat since my daughter adopted a vegan lifestyle. I also promised my son to make an exception for his birthday dinner, although I may stick with the vegetarian options on the Market Table.
I came across this article–This Lent, Add Instead of Subtract–and feel particularly drawn to the suggestions for building relationships. While spending time with family and friends, sending “real” cards, and volunteering doesn’t sound much like “self-denial” either, it will force me to get out of my comfort zone (especially the volunteering) and depart from my usual gym-work-home routine. Spending time with others seems like a good way to overcome the social media and 24-7 news cycle messaging that tries to divide us into “us” and “them,” and remember that we all are beloved children of God.
Do you observe Lent?
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I have been observing Lent for the past few years. I usually go to an Ash Wednesday service during lunch. Every year I give up something that I love and this year I’ll be giving up pizza. In the past I’ve given up junk food, sweets, and meat.
Giving up pizza would be a huge sacrifice for me. I know you can do it!
Always thought it was a Catholic thing.
I was raised Catholic, but no longer practice. Lent was one of the last things to go — I remember calling dad in a panic from college. I was sick and really wanted chicken soup and could I eat it. He told me it was OK since I was sick. I’m not sure what I thought was going to happen without his permission as I hadn’t gone to church in years at that point.
There’s a book I’m reading now whose man tenet is “Know your why” and I think that applies to your dietary plans this month for sure. It’s the conscious choice of when & why you’re going to break it, not just any random meal
See! I think “know your why” is key for a meaningful Lent. Giving up chocolate never had a “why” for me, but giving up meat did.
Yep. While I’d never criticize someone’s personal choice, I’ve never quite understood the “I’m giving up this thing because I have to – not because it’s meaningful to me”
If you don’t know your why, how is the addition / subtraction of Thing as meaningful.
Book was a good read. Review TK this weekend, Plant Based Runner. He’s more extreme than I am in his dietary choices/needs (it’s a mix of both as he’s celiac), but I found some great elements in his journey
I also was raised Catholic and Ash Wednesday was strictly observed. So much so, that I remain meatless on holy days now. Glad you got to attend the service you love!
I actually ended up working at home and going to “my” church — which I don’t think I’ve ever done before. It had a different feel with “family” instead of “strangers.”
I go to a Presbyterian church and we observe Lent as well. I didn’t do it growing up but I’m glad the church we go to know makes that a part of our worship. It’s like advent for Easter!
Well you know who to come to for vegetarian ideas! Ash Wednesday has some similarities to Yom Kippur.